I’m getting my first two ferrrts in about a year when I move to a new house I’ve been learning about them for about 3 years now and your channel has helped me so much! ❤️
I suggest building a stand alone pen with a wire floor and wire roof. Depending on where you're located, birds of prey can be a problem, too. You could add shelves to maximize space.
For plants, I really wouldn't recommend it in general, but only because your little noodles clearly like burrowing and digging. Unless you stick to larger, heavier plants, they'd probably just dig them up and ruin them. 😅 For enrichment, I wish I knew more. One of my ferrets is blind, so I typically avoid moving stuff around, and just rotate between the different varieties of noisy toys I have. At least his little sister doesn't mind it.
Have you considered reaching out to Marie's Ferrets as well? She seems super nice. Her enclosure is wonderful. I have no ideas, have not had a nice big space like this. Maybe she can help.:)
You could make an obstacle course for the ferrets with a prize(treat, favorite toy, or other item at the end. For plant ideas you could use tall grass that they can go through and maybe hide toys, treats, or enrichment objects hidden in the grass.. You could also make a tunnel from the inside of the house to the ferret enclosure. Maybe give them a dirt or sand pit to dig in. You can bury the chicken wire underneath the fence to prevent them from digging under it.
Iv been wanting to make something with a tire for the ferrets I am adopting from a shelter in a few week! If there is a strong branch low enough for you to get to, you could make a tire swing using small chains with a net covering the center and add blankets so they don’t get their claws caught
You could cut the tire into 2 or 3 pieces, bury the ends in the dirt for something to play on and under. The fencing could be cut into strips to block off the bottom of the wood fence and maybe only give them half or two thirds of the yard so you have room for the table and stuff
Not sure if you are aware of Marie's ferrets but she lives in Sweden and has a large outdoor enclosure fully ferret proofed. There are some pictures and a write up on what she did here: trickytrixie.tripod.com/natenclosure.htm, also her facebook page here: facebook.com/mariesferrets/ If you end out burying wire to stop the digging I would recommend using 1/2 inch welded mesh rather than chicken wire, chicken wire is nowhere near strong enough. So many escapes happen in the UK with people using chicken wire on their outdoor enclosures. I think using the tyre is a bad idea given how much ferrets love to chew rubber, it poses a significant blockage hazard and there is likely a safe alternative to whatever is suggested you use it for. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with the space.
Sounds like a fantastic project! The little fuzzballs will loooove it. Some ideas for the fence sections you may want to dig a narrow 6' deep trench along it then bury sections of 12" inch high plexiglass right up against the wood (between the posts so there's not a gap on top of it the ferret can climb over).... the small gap between the fence at the corner could also be resolved with a pre-fabricated section of fence that you'd cut down a little in width to screw to the existing posts on the other fences. you might want to again dig a channel so that the fence is 6" below grade. for that bigger section you could again set a few posts and set up a fence with a door so you can get back there if you need to.. but i wouldn't bury the fence there.. use the plexiglass example above.. if you set the door to swing away (towards the inside), you could set a stack or two of bricks on this side, have the door lower than grade, and lower the grade inside the section so the door can swing... you might want put a little pond with circulating water so they can play in it and/or get a drink.. and if your area is warm enough you could put some koi in there. if you're going to use the tire or other solid objects for the wee critter, you may want to drill holes in the underside so that water from rainfall doesn't collect and get stagnant.. also maybe have a sandbox they can dig in. i would probably do an inspection a few times a week to make sure they aren't digging their way out and that there aren't any new dangers evolving. this was probably TL;DR; lol
These are awesome ideas. Thank you so much for taking the time to list your thoughts. The plexiglass is an interesting solution. We are exploring burying chicken wire in a similar fashion! I'd LOVE to have some sort of water feature and we will look into the cost of that. Lastly, thanks for the tip on the tire. That's a good idea! I look forward to reading more of your ideas :)
You have a lot of work on your hands but it’ll be worth it! Some easier ideas would be to place slabs against the fence the whole way round, this way they can’t dig under the fence but it should also block off any gaps underneath, however they still could start to dig under the slabs. Another idea would be to dig down and put wire under the grass so it goes down and into the yard if that makes sense? For that 8ft space you could make a small fence and again, put wire or slabs at the bottom of it. As for enrichment ideas, I highly recommend you look into catios! They some awesome fun ideas that ferrets would love. For the rocks, since your yard goes down you could even have a mini shallow pond. You could also have a small maze with bushes although I’m sure they’d just go underneath them😂. I’ve also seen some ferrets able to climb up tree trunks so watch out for that too! I don’t think there’s honestly a way to 100% ferret proof it unless you literally dug out the garden and put wire under it then had a wire roofing too😂 but I’m sure they’ll enjoy this! You could also have a sandpit/ dirtpit or small rocks. I’ve also seen where people have tubing that goes underground
Great idea with the wire! I think that is what we are leaning towards. I LOVE catios! I've gotten so much inspiration from them!!! I was just talking to another subscribers about a pond. I need to look into how much they cost (and also how to get power to it). Love the sand pit idea too! I hope you keep sharing your awesome ideas!
To ferret proof your yard from Escape I would use the same types of techniques that people use on chicken coops to prevent Predators from getting in, which usually involves wire mesh but just try searching Predator proof Chicken Coop or something and that should give you some good ideas
My idea for the tires is like the inside little thing where it is open you can but some blankets, toys etc. for just a little play area because it’s hidden which they like and I know my ferret would love it!
Love you all so much! So amazing and such awesome ferret parents! Can’t wait to do something like this with our next home in the next 2 years! 🙏💓 I’ve had several groups of ferrets over the years. One of my groups loved to play with soft rounded small-medium stones. My youngest girl would create designs with them - no joke, wish I had photos. Others would pile them in a corner of the room by pushing them with their noses. It was really cool to watch; stones would work well in a backyard. Warm/cool water features that move and flow uniquely through the area would be a lot of work, but bring a lot of joy. It really depends on your budget. :)
Love your videos, yours are one of few i trust, thank you for sharing your knowledge. It is very helpful to people like me. I have never owned a ferret and i am doing loads of research and looking into everything possibly needed. I am well on my way to having things gathered to get a baby and i am so excited! what would you suggest to add to a first aid kit and sick ferret/ emergency kit?
Lots of money for emergency vet. Emergency surgery can be upto $2000. I had to deal with Blader stones on 3 of mine and those surgeries were $800 each. I would make sure you keep a stack of cash just for them. That's pretty much all you need. There's no medication or anything for them. Everything is through a vet. Salmon oil helps with organic intestinal blockage that can cause vomiting so try to get your ferret to love that. It also helps with nail trims.
Could you make a video about ferret safe toys. I have tunnels and little plastic balls for cats. Really looking for more play time options to keep my boys entertained
Chicken wire with large pvc piping along on the top of the fencing on the inside of the enclosure. I made a large enclosure this way with chicken wire (obviously they climb) but the pipe was too large and slippery for them to climb up and over it!!
I have seen many videos. My respect to the other people who make video. as she explains She is the best and she helped me with my ferret thank you very much🤩🤩🤩🤩
LOVE watching your videos I was wondering as well as chicken wire could u build some brick walls on the large open spaces and the tire take middle out use some wood slats make a low swing they can jump on low to ground so not a big full if not bury in the ground put some toys like little play pen they can jump in out or if doing the pond maybe something in middle with water plants they can rest on to me ❤️🥰🥰
What I would do personally if this was my backyard would be one of two ideas - all depending on your budget of course! Idea #1) Rock Garden This is the lower budget idea. This would consist of some treated lumber, screws, landscape fabric, and large river rocks. Steps: 1) Using some treated lumber (I would choose 4x4 posts for esthetics), lay down the posts about 12" away from the fence. 2) Remove all grass between the fence and the treated lumber 3) Every 8-10 feet, screw some supports from the posts to the fence against the ground (still using treated lumber). 4) Lay down some landscape fabric along the entirety of the makeshift garden bed (to prevent weeds from growing) 5) Add large river rocks (beautiful, practical, heavy enough for ferrets to not be able to move them or dig in) *Optional Step* Add square flower boxes, sleep boxes, sandboxes integrated into this landscape Idea #2) Cinder Block Wall This idea is definitely a bit pricey, but would also guarantee your ferrets would never escape... This would consist of Cinderblocks and cement. Steps: 1) dig a 6" trench against the fence line around the entire property (width of the blocks) 2) lay cinderblocks (probably 3 blocks high) in this trench making sure to stagger the blocks 3) Mix and pour cement into the top of the blocks once the wall is built 4) Once cement has hardened, you are basically done *Optional Step* Add some bird feeder hooks into the wet cement to have somewhere to hang solar lights, ferret hammocks, or tubing. I hope this all really helps! Should you need any help with designs, planning, blueprints, or cost planning/supplies planning, please feel free to reach out! I would love to help you and your project!
my suggestion would be to use chicken wire! we use in our back yard for chickens and it works great for our ferret to keep him from digging in the garden and from messing with the chickens
I'm a bit late to the video, but what my family did to keep our rabbits enclosed was we dug a few feet down into the ground against the fence, and we actually imbedded chicken wire into the ground so that if the rabbits were to dig, they'd hit the chicken wire and wouldn't be able to get out. I think it might work for your fences as you can staple the wire to the bottom of the fence, then line the trench with the chicken wire so it covers the side, and then fill the trench back in with dirt. You might even be able to pull up the grass in sections so that you can place it back over where you dug so if grows back in faster and the loose dirt would be less tempting for the ferrets! I wish my ferret liked to go outside, but it terrifies him so he does all his playing indoors. Excited to see what you do with it!!
Hey! maybe you could make a floating dining set, I’ve seen it before. Like the chairs float on a tree almost like a swing, I see you have maybe three trees, maybe one will work to hang the chairs
I review your video and you may have more that one option in order to create a barrier but that depend of the budget... the material that I will use playwood board and it will resist the water and can go underground, almost forgot the Poultry net
I think that chicken wire might be useful along your fence line. This is kind-of backwards, but should work exactly the same. I've helped several friends with chicken coops. We normally try to keep critters out, instead of in, like raccoons, opossums, skunks, fox, coyotes, etc.. Anyways, We broke and removed the sod layer and buried about a 12" strip of hardware cloth (welded-steel galvanized and hot-dipped fencing pretty much with 1/2" squares) flat with the dirt and put the sod back. This little trick really helped keep animals from burrowing their way under our fence and into our chicken coop. Wish I would've taken pictures but it definitely works as i've witnessed raccoons digging around the edge of the fence and eventually giving up after reaching the mesh. Grass roots don't have an issue going through this either, mowing/weed-eating is not a problem, the hardware cloth is still well buried in the ground, except for critter attempt zones, but easily fixable with a small shovel of dirt, and the grass will eventually take it back over. Not sure if that section of chicken wire is long enough to do much with, and it's no where near as rigid (stiff and retain shape) like hardware cloth, so I don't know if it'd be quite as effective, but this is an amazing and cheap solution to prevent digging. Hardware cloth is usually 10ft long x 3ft tall, so you get 30ft of border-coverage if you snip it into 1ft height, 10ft lengths for roughly $20. In your case though, I'd probably bring in dirt, and try to bring the ground level up closer to the bottom of the fence to make this method more effective, maybe even bend a lip on it, so you have a small L, make 1" or whatever you need to staple a small lip to the bottom of the fence line, and the rest flat on the ground to be buried. Fair warning tho, this WILL EAT THE CRAP out of weed-eater string! nothing worse than trying to weed-eat around any kind of metal fencing!
Dig a few feet under and around the fence, stack cement blocks and pour cement or concrete into the holes of the cement blocks. They can't climb it. They can't dig under it or through it. Tire idea: use durable or heavy duty tarp to put in the middle of the tire and pour waterg if your ferrets like water, some do n some don't. Or cut holes around it n out tubes in the holes.
hey i love you video but also do you think ferrets can just eat the “instinct ultimate protein cat food adult” you told me they could before but im just making sure
Another way to secure the fence could be with chicken wire the exact way you secure coops from foxes digging in. They dig near the edge so if you secure netting on the fence, put it on the ground and then have it lying on the ground for at least 30-40cm or so out from the fence. Then you can put dirt and grass on top of the fence but when the ferrets dig they will be met by chicken wire and they would have to back away from the fence to find the actual edge of the chicken wire, which they wouldn't know to do, once it's properly covered and packed with dirt... because in the ferrets mind digging so far away from the fence wouldn't lead to a way out. it's a great method and not that much of an eyesore. Some people just dig straight down, so the wire goes down further into the ground but that's a lot of digging and with my preferred method you just dig up the top layer of dirt and grass in big chunks and add back on top of the chicken wire once it's been layed out on the ground. Then you just stomp and pack the grass and dirt back where it was but now with chicken wire inder it. I really hope that made sense as I think that could be a great solution for you guys
So the best way to solve your problems would be to dig up the ground and put clay and a hard base under the soil or grass or what ever you put. After that you would need to inclose your backyard with your own fencing. You should bury the fencing PAST THE HARD CLAY. Af for the fencing there is a closed type of fence that is made of a polymer or plastic that is not only nice to look at but will keep your little bears from escaping. I would also invest in some canopies for rainfall and wind. Everything else is up to you guys! As for the tire you can always bury half of it for tunnels or use it as a close to the ground swing or even create runs that the tire can be used for wall railings.
Maybe just hire a small digger machine (idk what they're called in english) to dig about a metre deep all around your fences and put wire fencing for chickens into it and up higher stapled to the wooden fences. Then fill the metre of dirt back in.
I’m so interested and want to pitch in some ideas that could maybe inspire or help you because I love what your doinggg. Cinder blocks are really good for blocking ! I just worry that he’s gonna dig under and still get past it. My ferret Darci loves climbing and I caught her trying to climb our brick wall around our backyard. I got so scared because all of our neighbors have dogs too. I don’t think she can climb it thankfully but, maybe that means you can use brick for blocking mainly and then! At the top I was thinking of placing something that curves inward, so that there is so way of getting over. You know those hoods over windows in Italian style restaurants ? I would put something like that that extends over the bricks !
l fell in love and bought a home that had an interior atrium. A huge space 17 X 7 ft. that l first covered the dirt with bricks to discourage my cats from using it as a litter box. Next I had the roof line screened in to keep out the huge topical insects. Next l had it glassed and window screened in to stop the torrential rains. Then l fell in love with ferrets. I bought 2, then another, then another and finally a rescue. I had all sorts of beautiful potted plants, which they proceeded to dig and destroy and l had to move all my plants outside to save them. Now the floor has lots of tubes, the plants are attached up high on the walls where they cant get at them, with 2 medium-sized dog houses for a sleep shelter and another for keeping dry kibble. Their habitat is open to the sky and the elements and they seem to love it. Their fur poofs up during the light rains. They love being able to see what goes on inside my house. The will spend the night in the dog house and then at first light get up, run around and eat and then gather on a mesh hammock by the window and sleep in a pile. Or they will all come out of a separate tube opening from napping. lt's so cute watching 5 little heads come out of different openings.
Use 4 inch PVC plumbing pipe cut into random straight sections and then buy lots of Y, T and other connectors. Every so often you can undo everything and put it together in different ways and they will love to be able to watch you do it
They will DEFINITELY climb chicken wire, so whilst it's a good idea to cover areas they could escape, you have to make sure you're covering up any they could climb. I think your best bet for them not escaping would be to line the border of their future enclosure with concrete that's a decent bit into the ground. For the gaps, I'd just build some fencing to cover those. I'd personally give them a "roof" made of wire to protect them fully. When we let our little fuzzbutts into the garden for a play, they love playing in the bushes and digging through the fallen leaves. I have a little sandpit for them to play in whilst supervised and they love it! I recommend having a covered section where you can put beds and bedding for when they get tired, so you don't have to look for them in bushes.
Oh also, I have a ferret page just like urs which i have to post more frequently but due to health issues (they are my own health issues) I rarely post, But do u have advice on what i should post?
@@TheModernFerret I don't know how to explain it but is you search c&c grids or cages on Amazon you'll get what I mean😂 hope this could be a potential video
The only problem with the c&c cages il that you have to add something so your ferrets can't pass through the square holes. I did one for mine. It's really fun to built but time consuming. I tried many options such as transparent plastic sheets, metal wire and cardboard ended up using chicken fence. Possibility are infinite and you can do real nice safe playground.
You might look into how kenan on kamp kenan on RUclips build slinky's enclosure. Slinky is a big monitor lizard. Might get good ideas from that enclosure
Hi! I'm going to get a ferret, and i need some help. 1. Can i get a really good quality playpen for my ferret to live in? im going to be providing hammocks and beds and blankets, toys as well. just wondering if i could buy a playpen as a home and cover the top with something soft. 2. can ferrets climb? simular to my first question, i just want to know if ferrets can climb out of a cage-like playpen. 3. should i take a harness and allow my ferret to go on walks/playtimes outside? Thanks you so much for helping me (if you do) I love your channel!💜💌
Hi Lu! Thanks for commenting. Let me try to answer all your questions: 1. We like this play pen: prf.hn/l/rGvlMAZ 2. Ferrets can climb, especially when they are young and super energetic! I talk about this a lot more in our ferret proofing series: ruclips.net/video/J20yXwrybG0/видео.html 3. I think walks are a fun idea with ferrets. Baby ferrets can easily slip out of harnesses so keep that in mind. Check out this video on how to bond with your new ferret: ruclips.net/video/2maPwp9-M3Q/видео.html Before you get a ferret, make sure you have at least 4-6 hours per day to spend time with your ferret (and clean their litter box, etc), as well as enough money to pay for your ferret. Our 3 ferrets cost us around $100 per month in food and medical expenses. Please read this article before you get a ferret: www.themodernferret.com/read-this-before-you-get-a-new-ferret/ www.themodernferret.com/how-much-do-ferrets-cost-the-ultimate-beginners-guide/ Good luck and let me know if I can help with anything else!
Yes, definitely. Mine have access to screened windows and one screen by my bedroom has rents 8 ft. off the ground from one of them climbing up and then using their nails to slow their descent.
I'd say the best for the fence is to buy chicken wire and have a strip of it(usually $2 for a foot) run along the fence. You could nail it in and kinda push it into the ground. You could also have bricks, stone, ect or wood along the bottom. And for the metal fence, I'd say the best thing you could do is board up that one space to seperate you guys from their fence.
This is a expensive idea but you could poor some concrete and put dirt over it and plant grass . You also could put some rocks or as you said cinder blocks to keep the ferrets from getting out. Sorry I have no good ideas lol
Hii. I love what you are doing and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do for my ferret and doggie too! Honestly I think the chicken wire is very easy to climb for ferrets. I don’t recommend using it at least for around the neighbors fences. I recommend using something very flat without any holes or tiny bumps! Something that your baby can’t put his claws into. For the little places in the ground under all the fences that are open and easy to get under, Id definitely use the chicken wire maybe there? I’m thinking, dig a layer in front of the fence and place the chicken wire so that it’s inside the ground itself and it’s sticking up and also covering the hold from above ground too! But you would also have to attach the wire to the fence from the top because your ferret could still climb it other wise! And get on the other side and still manage to get into neighbors yard
My thoughts immediately go to chicken wire, but the problem with chicken wire I it's PERFECT for climbing ferrets. Idk about your ferrets, but I've got 1 or 2 climbers that basically show the non climbers, where it's safe to climb. If that makes sense. Basically, "monkey see, monkey do" But, with that said, my late boyfriend & I owned a trailer here in NJ. It was the first time we had our own little yard. We also had a screened in "car port" that we could let the ferrets play in, w/o eyes on them 24/7, but even still, our tinniest girl got out & luckily was found on a neighbor's yard within 30 mins. But those 30 mins were filled with panic & dread. Depending on your budget, there's a lot you can do. If you plan on using chicken wire, I recommend burying part of it, a few inches down so even if they dig, it'll take them a while before getting to the other side. You can put chicken wire between a fence, so you can't see it, but I feel like that's a bit much. At the top of the chicken wire, well, let me explain. When we moved in to our home, it was ba fixer upper, so my boyfriend basically ferret proofed as he was going. Once we were able to move in, I didn't really want the ferrets in the bathroom. They had access to the entire house but I didn't really want them chilling in the bathroom. So Adam built a gate, basically cut a PVC pipe in half, length wise, & attached it to the top of the gate, to prevent them from climbing over it. I recommend something similar for at the top of the chicken wire. You could cut a couple pipes in half length wise & have 2 or 3 layers so they definitely can't climb it, but at the same time, you can run an actual tube for them to run in but where they can't get out. I can see it in my head, but my description is shit. I would also make a place for them to dig. Kinda like building a sandbox for your kid, you know, you want to know what they're digging in, so you dig a pit, make sure there's nothing dangerous & either fill it with store bought sand or dirt, something that's safe. If you want to take the extra steps, you can dig a pit, line it with cinder or patio blocks, so you know that there aren't some burrowed animals living in their dig pit. I also recommend having a long grass area. The house I'm in now has a front & back yard but it's not landscaped or anything, so we have weeds, grass, wildflowers, etc. ALL the ferrets I've had throughout my life (10+), have LOVED running through the tall, cool grass. Especially when there's some cool dew on the grass. We all know they're gremlins. You can't get them wet w/o consequences. Lol. So having a little place with cool damp grass helps get them to start playing in the yard. You guys are clever. The inside of your house is EXACTLY what I plan on doing. So I know whatever you figure out will be great. I do have a POSSIBLE suggestion about the dog nextdoor. I had a pit mix for 17yrs. I had my very 1st ferret as an adult, when I brought Katie home, so she was always around them. She liked the boys, tolerated the girls (as my girls tend to be more nippy than the boys. In fact, my boys don't bite, even when playing, but the girls would nip at the dog. They never hurt her, but she didn't like it). But I NEVER worried about leaving Katie home alone with 4 cage free ferrets. I trusted that dog probably more than normal. I knew she would never hurt them. I know of many people who have other pets with ferrets. If your neighbors dog is a pit mix, or even if it's not, talk to your neighbors. Ask them if you can attempt to show the dog the ferrets & do an introduction. If the dog is as sweet as you've stated, there's a good chance you can show the dog that the ferret is a friend. Obviously, you want to keep your ferrets out of the neighbors yard, but I would still want to do the introduction JUST IN CASE. Obviously, you can't guarantee what the dog will do if a ferret ends up in their yard, but if you can make the dog think before reacting to the ferret, it buys you some time to run to the neighbors yard & retrieve your ferret. When Adam & I were in the trailer, our next door neighbor had a dog that followed him everywhere, which included to our house. When we first moved in, we only had 1 ferret, but ferret math. The neighbors dog, ended up playing with the ferrets. It was great. It was literally the perfect situation. We couldn't have asked for a better turnout. So giving the neighbors dog a chance to meet the ferrets & see that they are friend, not foe, could really save you some heartache & even worry. The way I always try & look a an outdoor ferret playground is not only protecting the ferrets from getting out, but also making sure nothing can get in, too. If a stray dog or cat or even a fox or coyote happens to be in the area, you want to make sure it's very difficult for that animal to get in. Also, where I am in NJ, we have hawks..... Large hawks. If a ferret is left alone outside, you're basically serving them up on a platter, so you need to keep an eye out for large birds if you live in an area with large birds. Maybe an awning, making in difficult to see from above. It's not something most pet parents worry about. We don't usually fear an eagle scooping up our dogs, so it can be something ferret owners don't factor in when bringing their ferrets outdoors. Esp if you're looking to be able to sit while your ferrets play. I'm sorry this is a long comment. I tend to over explain. I hope you can use some of the ideas I mentioned & keep in mind for predators. Good luck. I looked forward to seeing what you guys do.
I know im late but buy simple sheets of wood and scruw the wood to pols in the ground the cant clim it dig a hole all the way allang the barrières and put chicken whire so they cant dig out if you want a fieuwing area put plexiglas between the pols ruclips.net/video/8iVwagKkXkw/видео.html something like this but bigger🤔
Think the tire can be a good Swing for them if hung from a branch, in 20cm height perhaps so they can push it and they can jump into it. I'm sure they'd love to lie down in the bottom of the tire and sleep while the breeze rocks it from side to side. Think anybody would like that if they could fit into it ;P
I wouldn't be able to relax with that fence... I'd put cinder blocks or something similar ALL around the perimeter of the fence because you just never know where they could decide to start digging and you might not notice before it's too late and they are under. You can turn it into less of an eyesore if you put blocks with holes and plant the holes with flowers and stuff.. like a long loooong planter all the way across the fence. Also if you have birds of prey near you I'd be nervous of hawks and eagles when the ferrets are too far away from you... you can use something that looks like a bird of prey to scare off other birds of prey.. there are different types sort of like scarecrows but like a kite on a stick so it moves and scares others away.. About the small gap between the two fences... does it need to be open or could you just build more fence right there? I love the bridge idea!
Good idea with the scarecrow, never thought of that. The neighbor said she plans to build a fence in that gap so it might be ok! Thankfully we have a sprawling canopy of trees and we always supervise for hawks, but you can hear the disgruntled blue jays squawking in the video 😆
Ok so my huge detailed suggestion got erased let's try again 😅 I feel like I wanna draw this out now hahah ( I can on ig if u wanted ) This won't be easy but might work ..love those stones in the level parts .. maybe get some more dig around the edge of the fence put one in ground cover w dirt then one on top maybe w more soil so its plenty over the bottom of fence would look nice and might protect from escaping ferrets The tree bridge sounds cute! I've seen many enclosures with movable ledges bridges etc im sure you could put tubes in too of course surrounded by ckn wire to prevent furry friends from getting in there .. the tire maybe put part of a tube in there a in and out they can go around in? Is there predatory birds to worry about ? Seating area : you may need to level off a little annoying I know but maybe put down some concrete stones 4 or 6 so its more stable for furniture? I'm not sure about non toxic plants but maybe look up like brushes that they could play in? Good luck!
Omg that has definitely happened to me before. I write my heart out and then it glitches and disappears. The worst, lol. I've been drawing and drawing ideas for this thing! Maybe in the next video I can share some of my drawings. Good question about the birds. We have a lot of tree covering overhead which should keep hawks away. I know somebody mentioned hearing a hawk in the video but I believe that's actually a blue jay! We spoke with a landscape designer about pet-safe plants so I think I'll go into that in the next video. Great ideas! I hope you keep sharing your thoughts with us
Ferrets can dig, always 6foot of chicken wire(or similar below) the fence line. Concrete the whole area with deep founds, also easy to power wash cleanse the enclosure
Please be very careful with using chickenwire! It tends to be a little sharp and ferrets manage to climb it pretty well. This can be dangerous because it might hurt their feet! I know a ferret that lost a toe that way! The best way to make a safe enclosure is to put down concrete or stones along the borders (inside and outside) the enclosure to prevent them from digging their way out. And then doing about a meter or even a meter and a half high of smooth sides like wood, metal, plastic, perspex or more concrete to prevent the ferrets from climbing out (also, the smooth surface makes it easier to clean) and then from there on up to about 2 meters high you could do chickenwire... Best would also be to have something like a chickenwire ‘roof’ on the enclosure to protect your ferrets against birds of prey (and visiting cats and such). As for enrichment: make a shallow little pool area in the enclosure, a kiddie sandbox tends to be a succes, some levels to climb (make sure they can’t get out that way though!), bridges and hammocks are great, dig in some tubes so they’ll really go half a meter long (not deep!) or less underground, fallen leaves are fun, and you can very nicely feed them appropriate live bugs outside which will be very exciting (and healthy and delicious) for them once they catch on! As to plants: common kitchen herbs are safe, fun and smell good for you too! Some rosemary, thyme, parsley, lemonbalm, sage etc. Also, some ferrets go as nuts as cats for catnip so that could also be an option... Hope this helps! 😊 PS: also be careful with the tire! Ferrets have an unhealthy obsession with all things rubber and they might chew pieces of it, which can cause a blockage in the intestines and even ultimately death!
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you could make the tire into a diy bed!
Oh I like this!!!
I’d use hardwire cloth or mesh over chicken wire. It may keep the ferrets in but the dog could easily tear it.
Good point.
I’m getting my first two ferrrts in about a year when I move to a new house I’ve been learning about them for about 3 years now and your channel has helped me so much! ❤️
EEK! So exciting!!!!
@@TheModernFerret omg you replied I love you 🥺❤️
she explains She is the best and she helped me with my ferret thank you very much
OMG AMAZING
Did you get your ferrets I have 2 of them
i like clover for mine and Irish moss
I would LOVE Irish moss.
This is the the content I’m here for
I love watching your videos!
Thank you so much!
For ferret proofing the yard you could use like plastic lining stuff like plastic sheets
I suggest building a stand alone pen with a wire floor and wire roof. Depending on where you're located, birds of prey can be a problem, too. You could add shelves to maximize space.
She lives in Nebraska. Lots of hawks there. Probably not the best idea.
For plants, I really wouldn't recommend it in general, but only because your little noodles clearly like burrowing and digging. Unless you stick to larger, heavier plants, they'd probably just dig them up and ruin them. 😅
For enrichment, I wish I knew more. One of my ferrets is blind, so I typically avoid moving stuff around, and just rotate between the different varieties of noisy toys I have. At least his little sister doesn't mind it.
Have you considered reaching out to Marie's Ferrets as well? She seems super nice. Her enclosure is wonderful. I have no ideas, have not had a nice big space like this. Maybe she can help.:)
You could make an obstacle course for the ferrets with a prize(treat, favorite toy, or other item at the end. For plant ideas you could use tall grass that they can go through and maybe hide toys, treats, or enrichment objects hidden in the grass.. You could also make a tunnel from the inside of the house to the ferret enclosure. Maybe give them a dirt or sand pit to dig in. You can bury the chicken wire underneath the fence to prevent them from digging under it.
Build retaining wall/dig beds that butt up the the fencing. Also, you could use the tire and cut holes through the tread and add tunnels.
4:29 maybe a wooden sheet thing... Idk what its called tho🤣🙈
Do a fence for the places you need to fill in spaces. And for along the fence line you could pour concrete as far down as you can all along the fence.
You could get plexiglass and put it on the first like 6 feet of the fence
skirting board could possibly work for the hole in the bottom of the fence
you could probably make a hanging bed with the tire too
Cant wait to see what you come up with. I was going to say border the yard with a mini cement retaining wall
That's what I was thinking as well we have one in my backyard and it's great
Iv been wanting to make something with a tire for the ferrets I am adopting from a shelter in a few week!
If there is a strong branch low enough for you to get to, you could make a tire swing using small chains with a net covering the center and add blankets so they don’t get their claws caught
You could cut the tire into 2 or 3 pieces, bury the ends in the dirt for something to play on and under. The fencing could be cut into strips to block off the bottom of the wood fence and maybe only give them half or two thirds of the yard so you have room for the table and stuff
you could use hardwire mesh for the fence it has smaller whole then chicken wire! And mesh for the gap.
Not sure if you are aware of Marie's ferrets but she lives in Sweden and has a large outdoor enclosure fully ferret proofed. There are some pictures and a write up on what she did here: trickytrixie.tripod.com/natenclosure.htm, also her facebook page here: facebook.com/mariesferrets/
If you end out burying wire to stop the digging I would recommend using 1/2 inch welded mesh rather than chicken wire, chicken wire is nowhere near strong enough. So many escapes happen in the UK with people using chicken wire on their outdoor enclosures. I think using the tyre is a bad idea given how much ferrets love to chew rubber, it poses a significant blockage hazard and there is likely a safe alternative to whatever is suggested you use it for.
I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with the space.
For the fence you should use a type of wire fence that had very small holes and then a regular wood fence
That's a great idea, wood can rot in the ground!
Sounds like a fantastic project! The little fuzzballs will loooove it. Some ideas for the fence sections you may want to dig a narrow 6' deep trench along it then bury sections of 12" inch high plexiglass right up against the wood (between the posts so there's not a gap on top of it the ferret can climb over).... the small gap between the fence at the corner could also be resolved with a pre-fabricated section of fence that you'd cut down a little in width to screw to the existing posts on the other fences. you might want to again dig a channel so that the fence is 6" below grade. for that bigger section you could again set a few posts and set up a fence with a door so you can get back there if you need to.. but i wouldn't bury the fence there.. use the plexiglass example above.. if you set the door to swing away (towards the inside), you could set a stack or two of bricks on this side, have the door lower than grade, and lower the grade inside the section so the door can swing...
you might want put a little pond with circulating water so they can play in it and/or get a drink.. and if your area is warm enough you could put some koi in there.
if you're going to use the tire or other solid objects for the wee critter, you may want to drill holes in the underside so that water from rainfall doesn't collect and get stagnant.. also maybe have a sandbox they can dig in.
i would probably do an inspection a few times a week to make sure they aren't digging their way out and that there aren't any new dangers evolving.
this was probably TL;DR; lol
I was about to say something similar
These are awesome ideas. Thank you so much for taking the time to list your thoughts. The plexiglass is an interesting solution. We are exploring burying chicken wire in a similar fashion! I'd LOVE to have some sort of water feature and we will look into the cost of that. Lastly, thanks for the tip on the tire. That's a good idea! I look forward to reading more of your ideas :)
I'd be worried they'd try to catch any fish.
You have a lot of work on your hands but it’ll be worth it!
Some easier ideas would be to place slabs against the fence the whole way round, this way they can’t dig under the fence but it should also block off any gaps underneath, however they still could start to dig under the slabs. Another idea would be to dig down and put wire under the grass so it goes down and into the yard if that makes sense? For that 8ft space you could make a small fence and again, put wire or slabs at the bottom of it. As for enrichment ideas, I highly recommend you look into catios! They some awesome fun ideas that ferrets would love. For the rocks, since your yard goes down you could even have a mini shallow pond. You could also have a small maze with bushes although I’m sure they’d just go underneath them😂. I’ve also seen some ferrets able to climb up tree trunks so watch out for that too! I don’t think there’s honestly a way to 100% ferret proof it unless you literally dug out the garden and put wire under it then had a wire roofing too😂 but I’m sure they’ll enjoy this! You could also have a sandpit/ dirtpit or small rocks. I’ve also seen where people have tubing that goes underground
Great idea with the wire! I think that is what we are leaning towards. I LOVE catios! I've gotten so much inspiration from them!!! I was just talking to another subscribers about a pond. I need to look into how much they cost (and also how to get power to it). Love the sand pit idea too! I hope you keep sharing your awesome ideas!
To ferret proof your yard from Escape I would use the same types of techniques that people use on chicken coops to prevent Predators from getting in, which usually involves wire mesh but just try searching Predator proof Chicken Coop or something and that should give you some good ideas
Use all that backed away stuff to make more stuff for the ferrets!
God bless you I hope your ferrets or ferret is always safes and happy
U can use the tire on the ground and dig a hole in the center (in the ground) and make it a digging pit
My idea for the tires is like the inside little thing where it is open you can but some blankets, toys etc. for just a little play area because it’s hidden which they like and I know my ferret would love it!
Yes they would love it!!!
Ferrets do like eating plastic and rubber though I think best just get rid of the tires
Chicken wire for the fence. Use stakes to run it into the ground and staples to affix it to the fence.
By staples I mean heavy duty of course.
Great idea! We will definitely be looking into chicken wire.
You could make a small ferret sized lighthouse to overlook a small part of the yard. Love you channel!❤️❤️
could you put tunnel system on the fence like in your living room
Ooh use the tire as part of the bridge, to create different feelings as walking across
Whoa great idea!!
The rocks could be used as a rockery garden feature using alpine plants , with a fine netting at front
You can use the tire as a bed for them
I'd like to remember this!
Can you make a video about what you should do if your ferrets bite you when ever you get them out because mine do that and I don’t know what to do
Love you all so much! So amazing and such awesome ferret parents!
Can’t wait to do something like this with our next home in the next 2 years! 🙏💓
I’ve had several groups of ferrets over the years. One of my groups loved to play with soft rounded small-medium stones. My youngest girl would create designs with them - no joke, wish I had photos. Others would pile them in a corner of the room by pushing them with their noses. It was really cool to watch; stones would work well in a backyard.
Warm/cool water features that move and flow uniquely through the area would be a lot of work, but bring a lot of joy.
It really depends on your budget. :)
Love your videos, yours are one of few i trust, thank you for sharing your knowledge. It is very helpful to people like me. I have never owned a ferret and i am doing loads of research and looking into everything possibly needed. I am well on my way to having things gathered to get a baby and i am so excited! what would you suggest to add to a first aid kit and sick ferret/ emergency kit?
Lots of money for emergency vet. Emergency surgery can be upto $2000. I had to deal with Blader stones on 3 of mine and those surgeries were $800 each. I would make sure you keep a stack of cash just for them. That's pretty much all you need. There's no medication or anything for them. Everything is through a vet. Salmon oil helps with organic intestinal blockage that can cause vomiting so try to get your ferret to love that. It also helps with nail trims.
Have you looked at catios blueprints but make it ferret safe concern catios you can connect to your house through a window.
Great idea! I just went through some here: ruclips.net/video/QBNuYNAFepE/видео.html
How do you care for them when traveling
Thank you modernferret for taking your time to make these videos ,❤️❤️
Thank you for your support, it's why we keep going ♥
great idea to enrich your ferrets to the fullest 👌🏽
Could you make a video about ferret safe toys. I have tunnels and little plastic balls for cats. Really looking for more play time options to keep my boys entertained
This is a great idea. It can be hard to find safe toys for ferrets!
Hello so i wold appreciate a video where you tell us if you can hike with your ferrets?
Or what to do with you ferrest in holiday
Congrats on the yard I have a idea u can use some of those like door blocker thingies that u used in the past.If they work...
That would be cool!
Chicken wire with large pvc piping along on the top of the fencing on the inside of the enclosure. I made a large enclosure this way with chicken wire (obviously they climb) but the pipe was too large and slippery for them to climb up and over it!!
You might be able to turn the tire into a ferret wheel
Mesh wiring around the back fence and the corner
I will look into this!
I have seen many videos. My respect to the other people who make video. as she explains She is the best and she helped me with my ferret thank you very much🤩🤩🤩🤩
LOVE watching your videos I was wondering as well as chicken wire could u build some brick walls on the large open spaces and the tire take middle out use some wood slats make a low swing they can jump on low to ground so not a big full if not bury in the ground put some toys like little play pen they can jump in out or if doing the pond maybe something in middle with water plants they can rest on to me ❤️🥰🥰
What I would do personally if this was my backyard would be one of two ideas - all depending on your budget of course!
Idea #1) Rock Garden
This is the lower budget idea. This would consist of some treated lumber, screws, landscape fabric, and large river rocks.
Steps:
1) Using some treated lumber (I would choose 4x4 posts for esthetics), lay down the posts about 12" away from the fence.
2) Remove all grass between the fence and the treated lumber
3) Every 8-10 feet, screw some supports from the posts to the fence against the ground (still using treated lumber).
4) Lay down some landscape fabric along the entirety of the makeshift garden bed (to prevent weeds from growing)
5) Add large river rocks (beautiful, practical, heavy enough for ferrets to not be able to move them or dig in)
*Optional Step* Add square flower boxes, sleep boxes, sandboxes integrated into this landscape
Idea #2) Cinder Block Wall
This idea is definitely a bit pricey, but would also guarantee your ferrets would never escape... This would consist of Cinderblocks and cement.
Steps:
1) dig a 6" trench against the fence line around the entire property (width of the blocks)
2) lay cinderblocks (probably 3 blocks high) in this trench making sure to stagger the blocks
3) Mix and pour cement into the top of the blocks once the wall is built
4) Once cement has hardened, you are basically done
*Optional Step* Add some bird feeder hooks into the wet cement to have somewhere to hang solar lights, ferret hammocks, or tubing.
I hope this all really helps! Should you need any help with designs, planning, blueprints, or cost planning/supplies planning, please feel free to reach out! I would love to help you and your project!
my suggestion would be to use chicken wire! we use in our back yard for chickens and it works great for our ferret to keep him from digging in the garden and from messing with the chickens
I'm a bit late to the video, but what my family did to keep our rabbits enclosed was we dug a few feet down into the ground against the fence, and we actually imbedded chicken wire into the ground so that if the rabbits were to dig, they'd hit the chicken wire and wouldn't be able to get out. I think it might work for your fences as you can staple the wire to the bottom of the fence, then line the trench with the chicken wire so it covers the side, and then fill the trench back in with dirt. You might even be able to pull up the grass in sections so that you can place it back over where you dug so if grows back in faster and the loose dirt would be less tempting for the ferrets! I wish my ferret liked to go outside, but it terrifies him so he does all his playing indoors. Excited to see what you do with it!!
You can dig a few feet, put some concrete and then put up fences.
The tire would also make a good hideout or bed if you put a peice of wood or somthing over it with a hole in it
The more I look at it, I would definitely want to install an inground barrier all along the fence.
You are totally right.
How about an out door enclosure that has tunnels and the connects to their cage to let them roam around safely
Whoa that is cool, I'd love for it to be able to connect into their cage!
Hey! maybe you could make a floating dining set, I’ve seen it before. Like the chairs float on a tree almost like a swing, I see you have maybe three trees, maybe one will work to hang the chairs
the tyre could be filled partially with sand/gravel
as a dig box!
I review your video and you may have more that one option in order to create a barrier but that depend of the budget... the material that I will use playwood board and it will resist the water and can go underground, almost forgot the Poultry net
Mine went wild after a few outdoor events
I think that chicken wire might be useful along your fence line. This is kind-of backwards, but should work exactly the same. I've helped several friends with chicken coops. We normally try to keep critters out, instead of in, like raccoons, opossums, skunks, fox, coyotes, etc..
Anyways, We broke and removed the sod layer and buried about a 12" strip of hardware cloth (welded-steel galvanized and hot-dipped fencing pretty much with 1/2" squares) flat with the dirt and put the sod back. This little trick really helped keep animals from burrowing their way under our fence and into our chicken coop.
Wish I would've taken pictures but it definitely works as i've witnessed raccoons digging around the edge of the fence and eventually giving up after reaching the mesh. Grass roots don't have an issue going through this either, mowing/weed-eating is not a problem, the hardware cloth is still well buried in the ground, except for critter attempt zones, but easily fixable with a small shovel of dirt, and the grass will eventually take it back over.
Not sure if that section of chicken wire is long enough to do much with, and it's no where near as rigid (stiff and retain shape) like hardware cloth, so I don't know if it'd be quite as effective, but this is an amazing and cheap solution to prevent digging. Hardware cloth is usually 10ft long x 3ft tall, so you get 30ft of border-coverage if you snip it into 1ft height, 10ft lengths for roughly $20.
In your case though, I'd probably bring in dirt, and try to bring the ground level up closer to the bottom of the fence to make this method more effective, maybe even bend a lip on it, so you have a small L, make 1" or whatever you need to staple a small lip to the bottom of the fence line, and the rest flat on the ground to be buried. Fair warning tho, this WILL EAT THE CRAP out of weed-eater string! nothing worse than trying to weed-eat around any kind of metal fencing!
Dig a few feet under and around the fence, stack cement blocks and pour cement or concrete into the holes of the cement blocks. They can't climb it. They can't dig under it or through it.
Tire idea: use durable or heavy duty tarp to put in the middle of the tire and pour waterg if your ferrets like water, some do n some don't.
Or cut holes around it n out tubes in the holes.
hey i love you video but also do you think ferrets can just eat the “instinct ultimate protein cat food adult” you told me they could before but im just making sure
Another way to secure the fence could be with chicken wire the exact way you secure coops from foxes digging in.
They dig near the edge so if you secure netting on the fence, put it on the ground and then have it lying on the ground for at least 30-40cm or so out from the fence. Then you can put dirt and grass on top of the fence but when the ferrets dig they will be met by chicken wire and they would have to back away from the fence to find the actual edge of the chicken wire, which they wouldn't know to do, once it's properly covered and packed with dirt... because in the ferrets mind digging so far away from the fence wouldn't lead to a way out.
it's a great method and not that much of an eyesore.
Some people just dig straight down, so the wire goes down further into the ground but that's a lot of digging and with my preferred method you just dig up the top layer of dirt and grass in big chunks and add back on top of the chicken wire once it's been layed out on the ground. Then you just stomp and pack the grass and dirt back where it was but now with chicken wire inder it.
I really hope that made sense as I think that could be a great solution for you guys
So the best way to solve your problems would be to dig up the ground and put clay and a hard base under the soil or grass or what ever you put. After that you would need to inclose your backyard with your own fencing. You should bury the fencing PAST THE HARD CLAY. Af for the fencing there is a closed type of fence that is made of a polymer or plastic that is not only nice to look at but will keep your little bears from escaping.
I would also invest in some canopies for rainfall and wind. Everything else is up to you guys!
As for the tire you can always bury half of it for tunnels or use it as a close to the ground swing or even create runs that the tire can be used for wall railings.
Maybe just hire a small digger machine (idk what they're called in english) to dig about a metre deep all around your fences and put wire fencing for chickens into it and up higher stapled to the wooden fences. Then fill the metre of dirt back in.
I’m so interested and want to pitch in some ideas that could maybe inspire or help you because I love what your doinggg. Cinder blocks are really good for blocking ! I just worry that he’s gonna dig under and still get past it. My ferret Darci loves climbing and I caught her trying to climb our brick wall around our backyard. I got so scared because all of our neighbors have dogs too. I don’t think she can climb it thankfully but, maybe that means you can use brick for blocking mainly and then! At the top I was thinking of placing something that curves inward, so that there is so way of getting over. You know those hoods over windows in Italian style restaurants ? I would put something like that that extends over the bricks !
l fell in love and bought a home that had an interior atrium. A huge space 17 X 7 ft. that l first covered the dirt with bricks to discourage my cats from using it as a litter box. Next I had the roof line screened in to keep out the huge topical insects. Next l had it glassed and window screened in to stop the torrential rains. Then l fell in love with ferrets. I bought 2, then another, then another and finally a rescue. I had all sorts of beautiful potted plants, which they proceeded to dig and destroy and l had to move all my plants outside to save them. Now the floor has lots of tubes, the plants are attached up high on the walls where they cant get at them, with 2 medium-sized dog houses for a sleep shelter and another for keeping dry kibble. Their habitat is open to the sky and the elements and they seem to love it. Their fur poofs up during the light rains. They love being able to see what goes on inside my house. The will spend the night in the dog house and then at first light get up, run around and eat and then gather on a mesh hammock by the window and sleep in a pile. Or they will all come out of a separate tube opening from napping. lt's so cute watching 5 little heads come out of different openings.
Use 4 inch PVC plumbing pipe cut into random straight sections and then buy lots of Y, T and other connectors. Every so often you can undo everything and put it together in different ways and they will love to be able to watch you do it
They will DEFINITELY climb chicken wire, so whilst it's a good idea to cover areas they could escape, you have to make sure you're covering up any they could climb.
I think your best bet for them not escaping would be to line the border of their future enclosure with concrete that's a decent bit into the ground.
For the gaps, I'd just build some fencing to cover those.
I'd personally give them a "roof" made of wire to protect them fully.
When we let our little fuzzbutts into the garden for a play, they love playing in the bushes and digging through the fallen leaves. I have a little sandpit for them to play in whilst supervised and they love it!
I recommend having a covered section where you can put beds and bedding for when they get tired, so you don't have to look for them in bushes.
Tire:
AKA : a perfect ferret swing
You can put dirt in the hole
look up the mink mans minkland.. he did a great job explaining how to do this properly.
Use wood to close up all those little spaces wood and dig down first and then put the wood in so then they cant dig under
Oh also, I have a ferret page just like urs which i have to post more frequently but due to health issues (they are my own health issues) I rarely post, But do u have advice on what i should post?
This is just an idea but you would have to like ferret proof it maybe put like a put and string it around the fence
Hey can you do a video making a ferrit cage DIY using c&c grided for indoors
Cool idea - what is c&c? Do you mean chicken wire/hardware cloth?
@@TheModernFerret I don't know how to explain it but is you search c&c grids or cages on Amazon you'll get what I mean😂 hope this could be a potential video
The only problem with the c&c cages il that you have to add something so your ferrets can't pass through the square holes.
I did one for mine. It's really fun to built but time consuming. I tried many options such as transparent plastic sheets, metal wire and cardboard ended up using chicken fence.
Possibility are infinite and you can do real nice safe playground.
You might look into how kenan on kamp kenan on RUclips build slinky's enclosure. Slinky is a big monitor lizard. Might get good ideas from that enclosure
Hi! I'm going to get a ferret, and i need some help.
1. Can i get a really good quality playpen for my ferret to live in? im going to be providing hammocks and beds and blankets, toys as well. just wondering if i could buy a playpen as a home and cover the top with something soft.
2. can ferrets climb? simular to my first question, i just want to know if ferrets can climb out of a cage-like playpen.
3. should i take a harness and allow my ferret to go on walks/playtimes outside?
Thanks you so much for helping me (if you do) I love your channel!💜💌
Hi Lu! Thanks for commenting. Let me try to answer all your questions:
1. We like this play pen: prf.hn/l/rGvlMAZ
2. Ferrets can climb, especially when they are young and super energetic! I talk about this a lot more in our ferret proofing series: ruclips.net/video/J20yXwrybG0/видео.html
3. I think walks are a fun idea with ferrets. Baby ferrets can easily slip out of harnesses so keep that in mind. Check out this video on how to bond with your new ferret: ruclips.net/video/2maPwp9-M3Q/видео.html
Before you get a ferret, make sure you have at least 4-6 hours per day to spend time with your ferret (and clean their litter box, etc), as well as enough money to pay for your ferret. Our 3 ferrets cost us around $100 per month in food and medical expenses.
Please read this article before you get a ferret: www.themodernferret.com/read-this-before-you-get-a-new-ferret/
www.themodernferret.com/how-much-do-ferrets-cost-the-ultimate-beginners-guide/
Good luck and let me know if I can help with anything else!
Yes, definitely. Mine have access to screened windows and one screen by my bedroom has rents 8 ft. off the ground from one of them climbing up and then using their nails to slow their descent.
They are so cute
♥
Maybe just look around for random stuff that would be safe for them, and just put it in and see what they make of it.
Good idea, I'll run some test. So far they really like tubes under blankets 😮
You can get wooden planks and screw them ont the bottom of the fence...
I'd say the best for the fence is to buy chicken wire and have a strip of it(usually $2 for a foot) run along the fence. You could nail it in and kinda push it into the ground. You could also have bricks, stone, ect or wood along the bottom. And for the metal fence, I'd say the best thing you could do is board up that one space to seperate you guys from their fence.
I think the chicken wire is a great idea. That is definitely something we plan to explore!
This is a expensive idea but you could poor some concrete and put dirt over it and plant grass . You also could put some rocks or as you said cinder blocks to keep the ferrets from getting out. Sorry I have no good ideas lol
Hii. I love what you are doing and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do for my ferret and doggie too! Honestly I think the chicken wire is very easy to climb for ferrets. I don’t recommend using it at least for around the neighbors fences. I recommend using something very flat without any holes or tiny bumps! Something that your baby can’t put his claws into. For the little places in the ground under all the fences that are open and easy to get under, Id definitely use the chicken wire maybe there? I’m thinking, dig a layer in front of the fence and place the chicken wire so that it’s inside the ground itself and it’s sticking up and also covering the hold from above ground too! But you would also have to attach the wire to the fence from the top because your ferret could still climb it other wise! And get on the other side and still manage to get into neighbors yard
The only way to be certain that they won't escape is to make every side five foot deep cement. That would be escape proof
The dog : am I getting pet ? Why you no petting ? I want the petting
My thoughts immediately go to chicken wire, but the problem with chicken wire I it's PERFECT for climbing ferrets. Idk about your ferrets, but I've got 1 or 2 climbers that basically show the non climbers, where it's safe to climb. If that makes sense. Basically, "monkey see, monkey do"
But, with that said, my late boyfriend & I owned a trailer here in NJ. It was the first time we had our own little yard. We also had a screened in "car port" that we could let the ferrets play in, w/o eyes on them 24/7, but even still, our tinniest girl got out & luckily was found on a neighbor's yard within 30 mins. But those 30 mins were filled with panic & dread. Depending on your budget, there's a lot you can do. If you plan on using chicken wire, I recommend burying part of it, a few inches down so even if they dig, it'll take them a while before getting to the other side. You can put chicken wire between a fence, so you can't see it, but I feel like that's a bit much. At the top of the chicken wire, well, let me explain. When we moved in to our home, it was ba fixer upper, so my boyfriend basically ferret proofed as he was going. Once we were able to move in, I didn't really want the ferrets in the bathroom. They had access to the entire house but I didn't really want them chilling in the bathroom. So Adam built a gate, basically cut a PVC pipe in half, length wise, & attached it to the top of the gate, to prevent them from climbing over it. I recommend something similar for at the top of the chicken wire. You could cut a couple pipes in half length wise & have 2 or 3 layers so they definitely can't climb it, but at the same time, you can run an actual tube for them to run in but where they can't get out. I can see it in my head, but my description is shit. I would also make a place for them to dig. Kinda like building a sandbox for your kid, you know, you want to know what they're digging in, so you dig a pit, make sure there's nothing dangerous & either fill it with store bought sand or dirt, something that's safe. If you want to take the extra steps, you can dig a pit, line it with cinder or patio blocks, so you know that there aren't some burrowed animals living in their dig pit. I also recommend having a long grass area. The house I'm in now has a front & back yard but it's not landscaped or anything, so we have weeds, grass, wildflowers, etc. ALL the ferrets I've had throughout my life (10+), have LOVED running through the tall, cool grass. Especially when there's some cool dew on the grass. We all know they're gremlins. You can't get them wet w/o consequences. Lol. So having a little place with cool damp grass helps get them to start playing in the yard. You guys are clever. The inside of your house is EXACTLY what I plan on doing. So I know whatever you figure out will be great.
I do have a POSSIBLE suggestion about the dog nextdoor. I had a pit mix for 17yrs. I had my very 1st ferret as an adult, when I brought Katie home, so she was always around them. She liked the boys, tolerated the girls (as my girls tend to be more nippy than the boys. In fact, my boys don't bite, even when playing, but the girls would nip at the dog. They never hurt her, but she didn't like it). But I NEVER worried about leaving Katie home alone with 4 cage free ferrets. I trusted that dog probably more than normal. I knew she would never hurt them. I know of many people who have other pets with ferrets. If your neighbors dog is a pit mix, or even if it's not, talk to your neighbors. Ask them if you can attempt to show the dog the ferrets & do an introduction. If the dog is as sweet as you've stated, there's a good chance you can show the dog that the ferret is a friend. Obviously, you want to keep your ferrets out of the neighbors yard, but I would still want to do the introduction JUST IN CASE. Obviously, you can't guarantee what the dog will do if a ferret ends up in their yard, but if you can make the dog think before reacting to the ferret, it buys you some time to run to the neighbors yard & retrieve your ferret. When Adam & I were in the trailer, our next door neighbor had a dog that followed him everywhere, which included to our house. When we first moved in, we only had 1 ferret, but ferret math. The neighbors dog, ended up playing with the ferrets. It was great. It was literally the perfect situation. We couldn't have asked for a better turnout. So giving the neighbors dog a chance to meet the ferrets & see that they are friend, not foe, could really save you some heartache & even worry. The way I always try & look a an outdoor ferret playground is not only protecting the ferrets from getting out, but also making sure nothing can get in, too. If a stray dog or cat or even a fox or coyote happens to be in the area, you want to make sure it's very difficult for that animal to get in. Also, where I am in NJ, we have hawks..... Large hawks. If a ferret is left alone outside, you're basically serving them up on a platter, so you need to keep an eye out for large birds if you live in an area with large birds. Maybe an awning, making in difficult to see from above. It's not something most pet parents worry about. We don't usually fear an eagle scooping up our dogs, so it can be something ferret owners don't factor in when bringing their ferrets outdoors. Esp if you're looking to be able to sit while your ferrets play. I'm sorry this is a long comment. I tend to over explain. I hope you can use some of the ideas I mentioned & keep in mind for predators. Good luck. I looked forward to seeing what you guys do.
Remember us og fans because you got so many followers 😌😌❤️
Always!
I know im late but buy simple sheets of wood and scruw the wood to pols in the ground the cant clim it dig a hole all the way allang the barrières and put chicken whire so they cant dig out if you want a fieuwing area put plexiglas between the pols ruclips.net/video/8iVwagKkXkw/видео.html something like this but bigger🤔
Think the tire can be a good Swing for them if hung from a branch, in 20cm height perhaps so they can push it and they can jump into it. I'm sure they'd love to lie down in the bottom of the tire and sleep while the breeze rocks it from side to side. Think anybody would like that if they could fit into it ;P
I wouldn't be able to relax with that fence... I'd put cinder blocks or something similar ALL around the perimeter of the fence because you just never know where they could decide to start digging and you might not notice before it's too late and they are under. You can turn it into less of an eyesore if you put blocks with holes and plant the holes with flowers and stuff.. like a long loooong planter all the way across the fence.
Also if you have birds of prey near you I'd be nervous of hawks and eagles when the ferrets are too far away from you... you can use something that looks like a bird of prey to scare off other birds of prey.. there are different types sort of like scarecrows but like a kite on a stick so it moves and scares others away..
About the small gap between the two fences... does it need to be open or could you just build more fence right there?
I love the bridge idea!
Good idea with the scarecrow, never thought of that. The neighbor said she plans to build a fence in that gap so it might be ok! Thankfully we have a sprawling canopy of trees and we always supervise for hawks, but you can hear the disgruntled blue jays squawking in the video 😆
Ok so my huge detailed suggestion got erased let's try again 😅
I feel like I wanna draw this out now hahah ( I can on ig if u wanted )
This won't be easy but might work ..love those stones in the level parts .. maybe get some more dig around the edge of the fence put one in ground cover w dirt then one on top maybe w more soil so its plenty over the bottom of fence would look nice and might protect from escaping ferrets
The tree bridge sounds cute!
I've seen many enclosures with movable ledges bridges etc im sure you could put tubes in too of course surrounded by ckn wire to prevent furry friends from getting in there .. the tire maybe put part of a tube in there a in and out they can go around in?
Is there predatory birds to worry about ?
Seating area : you may need to level off a little annoying I know but maybe put down some concrete stones 4 or 6 so its more stable for furniture?
I'm not sure about non toxic plants but maybe look up like brushes that they could play in?
Good luck!
Omg that has definitely happened to me before. I write my heart out and then it glitches and disappears. The worst, lol. I've been drawing and drawing ideas for this thing! Maybe in the next video I can share some of my drawings. Good question about the birds. We have a lot of tree covering overhead which should keep hawks away. I know somebody mentioned hearing a hawk in the video but I believe that's actually a blue jay! We spoke with a landscape designer about pet-safe plants so I think I'll go into that in the next video. Great ideas! I hope you keep sharing your thoughts with us
@@TheModernFerret I know. Sometimes I write something I'm really proud of, and it's devastating when it's just gone.
Cement block
You could plant catnip. Catnip should be okay since it is non toxic to cats.
I gonna get a ferret for birthday and i want to get ready
Ferrets can dig, always 6foot of chicken wire(or similar below) the fence line. Concrete the whole area with deep founds, also easy to power wash cleanse the enclosure
You can clean the tire and the ferrets can play in the tire
This is a great idea 😃
Please be very careful with using chickenwire! It tends to be a little sharp and ferrets manage to climb it pretty well. This can be dangerous because it might hurt their feet! I know a ferret that lost a toe that way!
The best way to make a safe enclosure is to put down concrete or stones along the borders (inside and outside) the enclosure to prevent them from digging their way out. And then doing about a meter or even a meter and a half high of smooth sides like wood, metal, plastic, perspex or more concrete to prevent the ferrets from climbing out (also, the smooth surface makes it easier to clean) and then from there on up to about 2 meters high you could do chickenwire... Best would also be to have something like a chickenwire ‘roof’ on the enclosure to protect your ferrets against birds of prey (and visiting cats and such).
As for enrichment: make a shallow little pool area in the enclosure, a kiddie sandbox tends to be a succes, some levels to climb (make sure they can’t get out that way though!), bridges and hammocks are great, dig in some tubes so they’ll really go half a meter long (not deep!) or less underground, fallen leaves are fun, and you can very nicely feed them appropriate live bugs outside which will be very exciting (and healthy and delicious) for them once they catch on!
As to plants: common kitchen herbs are safe, fun and smell good for you too! Some rosemary, thyme, parsley, lemonbalm, sage etc. Also, some ferrets go as nuts as cats for catnip so that could also be an option... Hope this helps! 😊
PS: also be careful with the tire! Ferrets have an unhealthy obsession with all things rubber and they might chew pieces of it, which can cause a blockage in the intestines and even ultimately death!